Apparatus for cleaning the various surfaces of metallic articles



Oct. 14, 1941. D. c. TURNBULL 2,258,634

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE VARIOUS S'J RFACES OF METALLIC ARTICLES FiledDec. 6, 19:57 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 \NVENTOR ATTORNEY 1 4 Shets-Sheet 2INVENTOR ATTORNEY I D. CATURN BULL APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE vARIoUssimFAcEs OF METALLIC ARTICLES Filed Dec. 6, 1937 Dal/Ia 6' 1 707154] ZOct."14, 1941. D. c. TURNBULL AP1 ARATUS FOR CLEANING THE VARIOUSSURFACES 0F METALLIJJ- ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 6, 1937VENTO :15 llm'nhdl ATTORNEY Oct. 14,1941. D. c. TURNBULL 7 2,253,634

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING THE V ARIOUS SURFACES OF METALLIC ARTIQLE S YFiled DgC. 5, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 'vivw INVENTOR Jag-6 7211M!!!ATTORNEY The invention Patented on. 14, 194i UNITED Aryans-ms roaCLEANING 'rm:

STATES PATEN T orries" SURFACES 0F METALLIC ARTICLE David C. Turnbull,Mishawaka, Ind., assignor in The American Foundry Equipment Company,Mishawalra, lnd., a corporation of Delaware Application December 6,1937, Serial No. 178,237

7 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for clean-' ing the surfaces ofmetallicarticles, such as metal castings, forgings, sheets and the like,and is particularly adapted to the cleaning of the various surfaces ofrelatively flat metallic articles which cannot be readily tumbled in atumbling mill.

In accordance with this invention a plurality of fan-like, divergentstreams of abrasive particles are projected at abrading velocities overpredetermined paths and at various angles. The meapparatus for cleaningmetal articles whereby streams of abrasive particles of divergent shapeare projected and are so'positioned that all portions of the selectedsurfaces, including depressions, cavities, projections and irregularsurfaces, are thoroughly treated, as well as the faces and edgeportions.

all of the surface portions including depressions,

elevations, irregular surfaces and edges, are swept by the abrasiveblast and effectively cleaned and treated.

also provides apparatus for carrying out the above described treating ofthe articles.- In one embodiment of the invention preferably there isprovided a plurality of rotary centrifugal throwing wheels, each having.associated therewith means for controlling the spread and direction ofthe particles to produce a divergent, fan-like stream. The throwingAnother object of the invention is to providean apparatus which ishighly effective and is relatively simple to operate and may be madeautomatic or semi-automatic in operation, thus minimizing the amount ofattendants or skill required by the operators.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom thefollowing particular description and from an inspection of theaccompanying drawings.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthis invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appendedhereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and themanner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof. in which:

wheels are preferably arranged to project one of the streams in a.substantially vertically downj ward direction while the other stream isprojected in a generally horizontal direction. The wheels are positionedso that the streams sweep a predetermined area and preferably at variousangles with respect to the article under treatment. A conveyor isprovided for transporting, articles through the streams and preferablyincludes a rotatable frame carrying one or more work piece supportswhich preferably-are rotatable on the frame. The frame is suitablydriven to advance the supports through the streams of abrasive and amechanism, such as a belt, is provided to engage the supports during atleast a portion of their travel for effecting rotation of the supportsduring the period when they are advanced through the abrasive streams.Suitable apparatus is provided for supplying abrasive particles to thethrowing wheels and for collecting the spent abrasive after it has beenprojected.

An object of the invention is to provide a convenient and simple, buthighly eflective, ap-

paratus for cleaning or otherwise treating various f articles of whichone dimension is relatively small as compared with the other dimensionssuch, for example, as plates and discs of various types.

Another object of the invention is to provide Fig. 1 is a frontelevational view of one form 7 of apparatus suitable for carrying outthe invent on;

a Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; i

Fig. sis a side elevational view, of the apparatus shown in F18. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line4-4 of Fig. 2 and illustrating particlarly the details of constructionof one of the work-piece supports and associated mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic top plan view illustrating the frameand work piece supports, together with the mechanism for rotating thesupports and showing the parts at a point advanced along their path ofmovement beyond the position shown in Fig. '2';

Fig. 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic top plan view of one of the workpiecesupports and the direction taken by the'abrasive streams projected bythe abrasive throwing .wheels, this view illustrating particularly theposition and direction of the abrasive streams with respect to theworkber or backing 28 and secured tional view corresponding to theshowing of In the drawings accompanying and forming part of thisspecification, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made forpurposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details maybe modified in various respects without departure from the broad aspectof the invention.

The present invention is disclosed, for the purpose of illustration inconnection with the cleaning of disc-like work pieces, as for example,stove plates. However, it will be obvious that the invention isapplicable to the cleaning of a large number of different types ofworkpieces and that the particular apparatus disclosed is well adaptedto operate upon articles other than the specific articles disclosed.

A housing is provided which may be of any convenient shape, butpreferably has a generally rectangular portion defined by side walls 2and 8, rear wall 4 and a front wall 5. The housing may be supported on asuitable framework 8 and may have a hopper portion 1 depending therefromand extending into a pit 8. Extending forwardly from the main portion ofthe housing is an extension 9 having a hood lll'provided with an inletopening H and an outlet opening l2, which openings may be suitablyclosed by flexible curtains l3 and I4. The floor l5 of the extension 8,may be formed with perforations for a purpose hereinafter described.

Disposed in the housing I is a conveyor 28 for carrying the work piecesaround in the housing for suitable treatment. The conveyor 20 preferablyincludes an upright shaft 2| rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 22and 28 and carrying a frame 24 including a plurality of radiallyextending arms 25. Rotatably carried on each of the arms 25 is a workpiece support 28 which preferably is formed as a table.

The details of the work piece support are shown particularly in Fig. 4of. the drawings. The support 28 includes a disc-like upper memher ortop 21 carried on a disc-like lower memthereto as by bolts 28. The top21 preferably has a downturned peripheral flange 30 embracing the edgeof the backing member preferably is suitably secured, for example, as byan adhesive to the top 2! and completely covers the upper surfacethereof and the fiange 38.

The backing member 28 is secured as by bolts 8| to a base 32, having aweb or top 83 connected to and preferably integral with a hub 84. Aseries of stiffening flanges 35, which may extend radially, areprovided. The hub 34 is journaled, as .by one or more bearings 88, on aspindle 81 inserted in a socket 38 carried by the arm 25 of the frame24.

The spindle may be positioned by one or more nuts 88 and the bearingspositioned in a convenient manner as by collars 48 and 4|.

The hub is closed by a top cap 42 seated in a shoulder 43 and by abottom cap 44 abutting a flange 45, and having a seal 48 around thesleeve 48.

The base 82 is provided with a cylindrical pul- 2,ase,es4

ley forming 'fiange 41 depending from the web 88 and adapted tocooperate with a belt 55 hereinafter more fully'described. A lateralflange 48 extends from the flange 41 for preventing the belt 55fromriding up out of normal position.

The conveyor is suitably driven as by a motor 50 which may beconveniently mounted on the top wall of the housing I. The motor isconnected by a suitable drive 5| to a variable speed reducer 5|. Thespeed reducer drives a sprocket 52 over which is trained a chain 58,also trained around a sprocket 54 secured on the shaft 2|. Energizationof the motor 50 rotates the shaft 2|, which in turn rotates the frame 24to advance the work supports 28 along a circular path.

The work supports 28 may be rotated on the frame, about their respectiveaxes, in a suitable manner, it being desirable that these are rotated atleast during their movement through their abrasive streams. A flexibleendless belt 55 is passed around th drum-like flanges 4'! of the worksupports 58 and 8| at housing.

The pulley 58 is carried on a shaft 51 mounted in a pair of arms 58secured on a shaft 58 which is swingably supported in suitable brackets88 carried by a suitable supporting framework 88.

The pulley 8| is carried on a vertical shaft 82 rotatably mounted inbearings 83 carried by a supporting framework 8| which is fixedrelatively to the housing. The shaft 82 is driven from a motor 84 whichmay be connected, through a suitable drive belt 85, to a variable speedreducer 81 having a sprocket 88 over which is trained a chain 81', whichis also trained over a sprocket 88 fixed on a shaft 82.

When th motor 84 is energized, the associated mechanism is operated torotate the shaft 82 and the pulley 8| carried thereby.. The belt 55 thusis driven and thereby rotates the work piece supporting tables withwhich it has driving connection. It will be noted that the belt 55 isengaged by the pulley flanges 41 of those work piec supports which arerearward of the front of the housing. The support 28 which is in theforward portion of the housing between the inlet and outlet openingsdoes not have its pulley flange 41 in engagement with the belt 55 andhence is not rotated about its axis. This support is merely driven alongits path in the forward portion of the housing. Thus the loading andunloading of the work piece support can be carried out conveniently.

A plurality of centrifugal abrasive projectors are provided and at leastone of these is adapted to project an abrasive stream in a directiongenerally perpendicular to the abrasive stream fired by another of theprojectors, the streams preferably being arranged to impinge against thwork pieces on the work piece supports. In the opposite sides of thefront of the present illustrative embodiment of the invention twoprojectors are disclosed, the projector A being positioned to project astream of abrasive a in a generally horizontal but slightly inclineddirection. Depending upon the particular problems which are to be met,the projector A may project a stream in a slightly downwardly direction,exactly horizontally or in a slightly upward direction. A secondprojector B is provided to project a stream of abrasive particlesgenerally in a downwardly direction so as to strike the top surface ofthe work pieces carried on the work piece supports.

The projectors A and B may be similar in con- 28 and is trained aroundpulleys I struction and vary only in the manner of mounting. In thepresent illustrative embodiment, only the projector A will be describedin detail, it

being understood that the portions of the projector B, not speciiicallydescribed, may be generally similar to the correspondingportions oi theprojector A.

Each projector comprises a rotatable centrifugal abrasive throwing wheelprovided with meansminating inwardly short of the center to define agenerally central space 82. Positioned within this space and rotatablewith the blades 8| is an impeller 83 having radially arranged vanes 88.A tubular control member 85 is disposed in surrounding relation to theimpeller and is provided with an outlet opening 88. The control member85 is mounted stationary with respect to the impeller and throwingblades but its position may be adjusted relative thereto for the purposeof adjusting the direction of flight of the abrasive particles. Thethrowing blades may be secured to and carried by a plurality of spacedside plates 81 and 88 and the wheel itself may be carried on a hub 88fixed to a. shaft 88. The

shaft 88 is journaled in asuitable bearing or bearings 8| adapted tobear the weight of the wheel and shaft. The wheel may be rotated by amotor 82 connected to the shaft 88, as by a suitable drive 88.

The wheel 88 is positioned to project the stream a into the interior ofthe housing and the wheel may be disposed either within the housing, orpartially or entirely outside of the housing, provision being made forthe passage of the stream a into the housing. In the illustratlve formof the invention, the wheel is partiaily within and-partially withoutthe housing and a casing 88 surrounds the exposed portion of the wheel.i

The wheel may be supplied with abrasive v through a feed pipe 88extending through an opening 85 in one of the side plates 81. Theabrasive may be contained in a storage hopper 81 from which the abrasiveis supplied to the feed pipe 88 by a conduit 88.

Upon energization of the motor 82 the impeller and throwing blades,together with the side plates rotate and the control member 85 remainsstationary. Abrasive is suppliedto the impeller 83'through the feed pipe88 and is thrown by the impeller 83 through the outlet opening 88 andinto the path of the throwing blades 8|. The abrasive is urged along thefaces of the throwing blades 8| and is projected therefrom adjacent theperiphery of the wheel. The abrasive is projected at high velocity in afanlike stream, the spread, direction of movement and the impingementpattern or which may be controlled by the control member 85. Thus, anelongated impingement pattern is produced on a plane spaced from thewheel and generally otherwise modifying the surface characteristics ofthe article to be treated.

The projector B includes a wheel88b similar to the wheel 88 carried onthe shaft 881: journaled in bearings 8Ib.- Thewheel 88b is driven from amotor 828 connected through a drive 8812 to the shatt88b.

The wheel 88b is positioned to project a stream b into'the housing I andmay be partially closed by a casing 88b. The wheel 88!) is supplied withabrasive by a feed spout 88b which is supplied with abrasive from thehopper 81 by a conduit 88b.

The bottom 01' the housing I preferably has the form of a hopper, suchas the hopper 1 which leads to an elevator I85. I! desired, suitableconveyor devices (not shown), such as screw conveyors, may be providedfor advancing the spent abrasiveirom the hopper to the elevator I85, butin many cases the movement of the spent abrasive can be eilected merelyby gravity.

The elevator I85 includes an endless member I88 carrying a plurality ofhit buckets I81 and trained over drums I88 and 8 carried on shafts I88and III respectively. The elevator is driven by a motor II2 connected bya suitable drive II8 to a pulley |I4 carried on the shaft III.

If desired, suitable screening and/or cleaning devices (not shown) maybe provided for insuring that only clean abrasive tree from foreignparticles, is supplied to the projectors.

The supply of abrasive to the two projectors is suitably controlled, asby valves IN and |2Ib located at the end of the conduits 88 and 88brespectively, and actuated by mechanism I22 and |22b respectively.

parallel to the axis of rotation thereof.

Although the term abrasive is used therein The operation of theapparatus is as follows: The motors 82 and 82b are energized to rotatethe wheels 88 and 88b and abrasive is supplied to the wheels from thehopper 81. The wheels 88 'and 88h project divergent, fan-like stream aandb respectively across the path of movement of the worksupports- 28.The direction of the streams and their relation with one of the worksupports is illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in Figs. 5,6 and 7 andit will be seen that the streams intersect at a portion or the path ofthe work supports.

The motor 58 is energized to drive the frame 25 and carry the worksupports 28 in succession around a circular path. The motor 85 is alsoenergized and this eflects movement of the endless belt 55 and the worksupports 28 thereby are rotated about their respective axes.

One or more work pieces wp'are disposedon the work support 28 as itpasses-along the extension 8 of the housing in which position itis'accessible to the operator. Upon iurther movement of the work support28 it passes through the curtain I3 and into the housing. As,the worksupport 28 passes toward the rear of the housing, the drum-like flange81 engages the belt 55 and the work support 28 is rotated.

Upon further movement oi. the work support 28' it enters the streams aand b (see Figs. 5 to '7) and abrasive particles impinge upon both thetop surfaces and the edges of the work piece wp. The streams are ofdivergent, fan-like shape of substantial spread and the several portionsof the streams extend at diflerent angles and consequently the variousportions of the surfaces of the work pieces are struck by particleshurled from various directions. Thus, not only are the flat surfaces ofthe work pieces thoroughly cleaned, but any depressions, projections orirthat such protection axis which is vertical regulanporti'ons of thesurfaces are exposed to aaeaess the action of the abrasivemarticles andalso are porting surface of the latter is shielded by rubher or likematerial, as described above, usually the frictional resistance of therubber is sumcient to prevent displacement of the work piece by theforce ofthe abrasive streams.

It will be seen that the spreads of the streams a and b are suflicientso that the streams sweep a wide zone and the impingement patterns ofthe streams extend entirely across the path of movement of the worksupports. The projector A is shown as positioned to project its stream aof particles against not only the edges of the work piece, but alsoagainst the faces. This supplements the cleaning action of the projectorB and thus the work piece is struck by particles from a wide range ofdirections. If desired, however, the stream a may be controlled so as tosweep only the edge of the work piece. Furthermore; the stream b, beingdivergent, may be so directed a 'to strike against both the face and theedge of the work stood, however, that the stream a in the presentembodiment .primarily cleans the edges and the stream b primarily cleansthe face.

The several streams may be suitably controlled and directed so that eachwork piece is struck either simultaneously by both streams, or passessuccessively through the streams. Generally, it is preferable thatintersection of the streams-and consequent conflict between abrasiveparticles, be minimized or avoided so that maximum elliciency will beobtained and destruction of the abrasive minimized.

The work support 26 continues to advance and passes out of the stream,preferably continuing to rotate until his entirely out of thestreams; Asthe work support 26 passes toward the front of the housing, it isdisengaged from the belt 55 and rotation is discontinued. The worksupport 26 passesout through the curtain l4 and the cleaned or otherwisetreated work pieces wp can be readily removed therefrom.

Preferably, the various portions of the apparatus which are most subjectto wear or injury due to the wearing eifect of the particles areprotected by soft coatings, such as rubber. The top surfaces and edgesof the work supports are thus protected as illustrated in Fig. 4. Theprotection of other portions of the apparatus is not specificallyillustrated, but it will be understood can be provided wherevernecessary.

The mounting of one of the projectors on an or slightly inclined to thevertical permits thorough cleaning of the edges of the work pieces whilein a horizontal position and particularly the edges, such as theoutermost edges, which may not in certain cases be thoroughly cleaned bythe other projector. Thus the work pieces can be convenientlymanipulated and carried through the that in certain cases piece. It willbe under-,

' said framework, means said continuous drivinf e while certain novelfeatures of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in theannexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions,substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. In an abrading apparatus, a housing having anenclosing top wall. gene ally circumferentially extending side walls,and generally radially extending end walls spaced apart to define anopen loading area which is approximately one-third to one-fourth thearea enclosed within said housing, a rotatably mounted framework havingfrom two-thirds to three-fourths thereof enclosed'within said housingand the remaining portion thereof plurality of work sup rting tablesmounted on for rotating said framework to advance said tables along acontinuous path, a continuous driving element encircling said tables andengageable with said tables to rotate said tables during their passagethrough the housing, means operable independently of the movement ofsaid framework for actuating element, means for supporting said drivinge ment out of engagement with said tables during. the passage thereofthrough said loading area, an abrasive throwing cleaning zone byrelatively simple conveying and manipulating apparatus.

simple, rugged and'ei'fective and can be operated by relativelyunskilled labor at low cost.

wheel having a portion thereof projecting through the top wall of saidhousing operative to project a downwardly directed fan-shaped stream ofabrasive having an elongated impingement pattern against the workpiecessupported on said tables, said wheel being so arranged that thelongitudinal axis of said impingement pattern extends in the generaldirection of linear advance of said tables, and an abrasive throwingwheel having a portion thereof projecting through the side wall of saidhousing operative to project a shaped stream of abrasive against theworkpieces supported on said tables during the linear advance of saidtables through said housing.

2. In an abrading apparatus, a conveyor, means for advancing saidconveyor along an endless predetermined path, a plurality ofworksupporting tables rotatably mounted on said conveyor, a housingextending over a substantial section of the path of travel of saidconveyor defining a cleaning area, a section of the path of travel ofsaid conveyor exterior to said housing defining a loading area, acentrifugal throwing wheel for projecting a stream of abrasive againstthe workpieces supported on said tables while passing through saidhousing, and means for rotating said tables during their passage throughsaid housing, said rotating means including a drum member fixed to eachof said turntables, an endless belt encircling all of said drummembersfla section of said belt being in driving contact with the drummembers of said turntables during their passage through said housing,spaced pulleys positioned adjacent the loading area for maintaining saidbelt out oi driving contact with said tables during the pas,-'

nected to' said speed reducer.

3'. In an .abrading apparatus, a conveyor,

within said loading area, a

generally horizontally directed fan- I endless predetermined path, aplurality of worksupporting tables rotatably mounted on said conveyor, ahousing extending over a substantial section of the path of travel ofsaid conveyor defining a cleaning area anda section of the path oftravel of said conveyor exterior to said housing defining a loadingarea, a centrifugal throwing wheel for projecting a stream of abrasiveagainst the workpieces supported on said tables while passing throughsaid housing, and

means for rotating said tables during their passage through saidhousing, saidrotating means including a drum member fixed to each ofsaid turntables, an endless belt in driving contact 'with the drummembers of said turntables during their passage through said housing,spaced pulleys positioned adjacent the loading area for maintaining saidbelt out of driving contact with said tables during the passage of saidtables through said loading area, a swingable arm rotatably supportingone of said pulleys, the other pressed web portion connecting said rimand hub of said pulleys being fixed to a generally verti- 'callyextending shaft, spaced bearings rotatably supporting said shaft, avariable speed reducer operatively connected to said shaft, and a motoroperatively connected to said speed reducer for driving said belt.

4. In an abrading apparatus, a conveyor, means for advancing saidconveyor along an endless predetermined path, a plurality ofworksupporting tables rotatably mounted on said conveyor, and acentrifugal throwing wheel for projecting a stream of abrasive againstthe workpieces supported on said tables as said tables are advanced. bysaid conveyor-advancing means through said stream, each of saidturntables comprising .a relatively circular discshaped member-having afully exposed, worksupporting surface, a drum-shaped member having agenerally circular' rim forming flange, a hollow hub portion, and a webportion connecting said flange and hub portion upon which said disc issupported, a shaft fixed to said conveyor having one end thereofextending upwardly, a

bearing positioned within the hub portion of said dium member, a capmember for closing one end of said hub portion, and a rubber mat carriedby each of said work supporting tables.

5. In an abrading apparatus, aturntable construction including, arotatably mounted frame, an upwardly projecting shaft fixed to saidframe, a disc-shaped workpiece support having a flange extending aroundthe periphery thereof, a back ing plate for said disc member, means forremovably securing the disc member to said back-' ing plate, adrum-shaped member secured to said backing plate for supporting saiddisc memportions, a bearing positioned within said hub portion intowhich the end of said shaft extends.

a, sealing cap positioned within the depression in said web for sealingthe open end of said hub portion, a workpiece-supporting table fixed toand overlying said drum member and substantially protecting said drummember from the abrasive stream, a continuous belt adapted to engage therim portion of said drum member to rotate'said workpiece-supportingtable, and means for driving said belt independently of the advancingspeed of said conveyor.

'7. In an abrading apparatus, a vertically extending supportingpedestal, a supporting framework rotatably supported on said pedestal,means including a driving motor and a variable speed reducer forrotating said framework, a, plurality of article-supporting tablesrotatably mounted on said framework, means including a driving elementoperatively connected to said tables for rotating them prior to, during,and after their travel through an abrading zone, a driving motor and. avariableJspeed reducer operative to drive said driving element androtate said tables independently of the speed of rotation of saidframework, a housing enclosing from two-thirds to three-fourths of saidframework and tables defining a cleaning chamber surrounding saidabrading zone, said housing leaving a generally V-shaped area uncoveredwhich defines a loading zone, an abrasive throwing wheel rotatablymounted on the top wall of said housing operative to project adownwardly directed stream of abrasive particles upon the workpiecessupported on' said tables during the advance of said tables through saidabrading zone, and an abrasive throwing wheel rotatably mounted on aside wall of said housing operative to project a generally horizontallydirected stream of abrasive against the workpieces supported on saidtables during their passage through said abrading zone, and separatedriving means for rotating said abrasive throwing wheels.

DAVID C. TURNBULL.

